Longitudinal Snap Double Lift

My favorite double lift is Dai Vernon's push-off double lift. As "The Professor" said, a playing card is not a brick, and should be handled accordingly. Properly done this double lift seems virtually impossible, because the pressure of the thumb on the top card would tend to spread it if it were more than one card. Of course, the second finger beneath, keeping pace with the pushing thumb, creates the illusion. When the card is turned over and displayed on top of the pack, it should be done delicately, with just the tips of the right fingers guiding the side of the card and allowing it to fall--again for the sake of naturalness. Holding the card tightly here is a giveaway. The snap double lift has been in the books for a long time but only latitudinally. My innovation is to snap the double card the long way. Not only is this more natural and powerful (and louder), but it seems to be definitive proof that there is only one card. It definitely takes practice, but it is well worth it. There are two main tricks to keeping the cards aligned in a longitudinal snap double lift. First, the right hand (if you're right handed) first and second fingers strongly grip the back of the card revealed with the snap, which is beveled, or bent, toward the magician because of the pressure; this helps with the alignment. Finally, and this is crucial, the move can't be used with a brand new or too new deck: the cards are too slick. While this limits the usefulness of the move, it makes it all the more powerful when a borrowed deck contains the slight stickiness from use necessary for the move. Most borrowed decks, unless they are completely dog-eared, are perfect for the longitudinal double lift. I get a break under the top two cards and push off as per the Vernon double lift. This double lift also works great for sucker effects. For example, have a card selected and control to the top. Riffle the cards and boast, "I will now make your card come to the top." Do the snap double lift, dramatically displaying the wrong card. Replace with disappointment on top of the pack. You are now set to push off the correct card. Rub it, blow on it, or, if you know the flourish, spin it to reveal the correct card.

Newbie Note: A flourish is magician's talk for a juggling-like card or coin move that looks cool but isn't itself magic. Card fans and the steeplechase (making a coin roll over the backs of your knuckles) are flourishes. While fun, flourishes can detract from creating the effect of magic because they show the performer has skill. If the performer doesn't seem to have too much dexterity, then her tricks seem more magical.

Magical Reality Check: If you mentally force a card through a riffle peek, bring it to the top and say, "I will try to make the card you are thinking of come to the top," then dramatically reveal the wrong card via the Longitudinal Snap Double Lift, after which you shrug and change it into the right one, you have a mind-blowing card trick. It is very powerful because the magician, after failing to do the impossible (finding AND controlling a thought of card), then must seemingly resort to real magic--changing the wrong card into the thought of one. I will provide my method for this at a later date.